Paris In Spring '98

Steal Like an Artist

2012-02-23T09:14:00.001-05:00

I have to admit, I LOVED Austin Kleon's website when I found it a few months ago. It made so much sense to me, the things he said, and now it's in book form too. Check it out.

We each have our own individual voice and when we come across the creative output generated by someone else--in other words, find a really good idea--that moves us, speaks to us in a deep and meaningful way, it would only make sense that we would try something similar ourselves and put our own unique spin on it. Essentially take what that person did and then say it again in our own voice. Steal like an Artist.

It may sound really great when you are the thief, but when you are who is being stolen from, well...it's not so much fun anymore. It feels like a violation.

I was all for a Utopian society in which we all shared ideas and resources, supporting each other in our art and encouraging each other to be the best we could be. Unfortunately, when alliances have already been formed and you are the odd man out, you are the one who is stolen from and everyone else reaps the benefits.

I had really hoped to find other people who would support me in my efforts and be there for me. Help me be the best I can be and encourage me to do what I do. Alas, that was not the case and I'm the lone wolf again.

Are there any other angst-filled artists out there looking for a wing-man? If so, I'm your girl.

I like coffee and critiques; occasional walks on the beach and deep conversations about self-actualization and the meaning of life. I am unfailingly loyal and will support you in any way I can to help you realize your full potential, but you will have to do the same for me in return. It's called reciprocity.

Here's my singles ad: Melancholy, tormented female writer looking for the companionship of other melancholy, tormented artists.

I'm back on the market.

Here's hoping I find my tribe. I need them.

Cupid had his Arrow up his Ass this Year

2012-02-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

Fifteen years ago on the night before Valentine's Day, I got engaged. The following day, on Valentine's Day, when everyone was getting balloons and flowers, I was flashing my engagement ring. I don't think a Valentine's Day can get much sweeter than that.

Well, unless you fast forward seven years when I was expecting the imminent arrival of my precious baby boy on Valentine's Day. That was even sweeter than the proposal, and Hubbs totally got credit for it. Even though that was more of a God thing than a Hubbs thing, but still. I counted Hubbs as the benefactor and gave him mad props for gifting me with progeny. Duckie arrived on February 16, not February 14, but that totally counted as a Valentine's gift that year; especially since he was a scheduled c-section and I didn't have to feel a thing! Perfection all around.

Anyway, as you can see, my standard for Valentine's Day has been set pretty high.

Don't get me wrong; I wasn't expecting diamonds or babies.

But flowers would have been nice.

Unfortunately, Cupid didn't get the message this year.

Hubbs came home late, no flowers in sight. He hadn't reminded Duckie to make me a valentine or do anything for me at all, even though BOTH of them received little lovie-gifts from me.

Ugh. BOYS! Thoughtless.

So last night, on Valentine's Day, I took myself out on a date and left those two at home. I saw "The Vow" (it was good but not great), had popcorn and Diet Pepsi for dinner, got hit-on by the guy who was collecting movie tickets (he told me "anytime you want to see a movie, you let me know," wink wink). I said "I will!," wink back, (because isn't that what I'm doing when I hand my ticket to him right before walking into the movie theater anyway?) After the movie, I even stopped and bought myself flowers. (I also almost bought a Valentine's Day voodoo doll and a few safety pins, but then thought better of it. You know, karma and all).

When I arrived home, this was waiting for me:

True love. It's like a fairy tale.

Do You Consider Yourself a Published Author?

2012-02-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I attended a meeting of one of the local romance writers chapters in my area. During this meeting the membership began discussing projects for the upcoming year and, in particular, the rules for their two annual writing contests: one for published authors and another for unpublished authors. Evidently there was to be a big discussion--and a determination was going to be made--as to whether a "self-published" or "indie" author is actually considered a "published author."

Hmmm...this question directly applies to me, seeing as how I recently published a work of fiction which is available for download on every e-reader under the sun but does not actually exist in print copy anywhere except in my own filing cabinet. And because I happened to be sitting next to the president of the chapter, I turned to her and jokingly said, "Well, which contest should I enter?" and she asked me in return, "Do you consider yourself published?"

It's a fair question. Here are my thoughts on the matter:

I can see how authors who have gone the traditional publishing route, spending a lifetime not only honing their writing craft, but then countless days, weeks, months, and years finding an agent and then a publisher before being rewarded by seeing their work in print, may consider us self-pubbers to be a bunch of ego-maniacs who have no real talent or skill and who have essentially "cut the line" into publication. No doubt, this problem does exist. When you upload a manuscript into one of the digital publishing platforms available on the web, whatever is in that digital file is what is going to get released. Whether on a digital e-reader or inside a print-on-demand hard copy book, if the file contains mistakes, the final product will also contain mistakes. It is up to whoever is publishing it to control for those mistakes.

A traditionally published author usually has the benefit of a team of "publishing professionals" standing behind him or her who, at least in theory, are there to make sure the final product is as close to perfect as it can be. In contrast, self-published authors do not typically have the benefit of a team of "publishing professionals" working with them and therefore, it would just make sense that unless a self-published author takes their work very seriously and is concerned with quality control themselves, there is no one else standing by to do it for them.

So, is being considered a "published author" a matter of producing a high-quality product and making it available for public consumption, or does it go beyond that? Are we really talking about the act of being published (as self-published authors are) or are we talking about gaining admittance into an elite club of writers who have been validated by the publishing industry at large and believe their work is of higher value than that of someone who has not gone the traditional publishing route?

I think that's the real question.

It rings of discrimination to me, how about you?

So, to answer the question:

YES, I consider myself a published author and I'd like to share with you why I feel this way.

1. I am an academically trained writer. I have a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. I did not just wake up yesterday and decide to publish a book. I've been developing this skill since I first learned to hold a pencil. In short, I've been working toward this goal all my life. Not only do I love writing, I have an affinity for it, which resulted in academic success and recognition as well as pursuing it as a career choice.

2. I take my work seriously. I always have. Although I have not pursued publication of my fiction writing full time, it does not change the fact that I have been published many times over in the fields of non-fiction, technical writing, mass media, and through the functions of various jobs I've held throughout my career.

3. Although my recent novel was not developed in the traditional sense through a publishing house, I did the necessary research and found a freelance editor who nonetheless filled that role. I took the responsibility of establishing my own quality control and hired a professional from the industry to help me do just that. What is even more interesting is that because of the recent downturn in business in the publishing industry, editors who used to be on staff at the major publishing houses have now lost their staff positions and have gone freelance. The editor I hired to produce my novel is the same guy who would have been editing my manuscript had it been purchased through an established publisher anyway. Think about that.

4. I view self publishing as a business decision. It is in my best interests to maintain the rights to--and control over--my work. This is infinitely more important than the need to have my ego massaged by the gatekeepers of the publishing industry. No matter how flattering it might feel, I understand that it is more important for me to maintain control over my work than to give up my rights so that I can be artificially validated by an industry that is quickly becoming obsolete.

So I've given you my two cents. How about you? If you are a self-published, or even a traditionally published author, what are your thoughts? Do you identify self-published authors as published? Why or why not?

Paradigms, Social Constructs, and Anthills...

2012-02-09T09:58:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, about thirteen or so, I asked my friend's mom if she ever felt like the earth was just one giant anthill that seemed huge to us, but in actuality, was self-contained and tiny enough to fit into a jar and be observed by the children of beings greater than ourselves. Much like human kids get ant farms for Christmas and watch, amazed, as the ants live and work and die behind the terrarium glass.

My friend's mom laughed, took a pull on her cigarette and said, "Oh Diana, that's why we love ya. Where do you come up with this stuff?"

But she never answered my question. Maybe I didn't know how to ask it at the time. Or maybe she didn't think it was her job to tell me.

It was my way, a kid's way, of saying that I thought something was wrong. That the entire world was in on a great big secret and everybody knew what it was except me. That the earth on which I lived, as it spun on its axis, was just a little bit crooked. So instead of being sure-footed and able to walk upright with ease, I was constantly tripping, falling, and having to cling to something so I could pull myself back up again. I was always a few paces behind everyone else and I couldn't figure out why.

Now that I'm an adult, I can throw out words like "revelation" and "paradigm" and "social construct" and it makes more sense. A nice, intellectual way to explain chronic denial, paranoia, and dysfunction that I always knew was wrong...but I couldn't have told you why. When it's the way you were raised and all you ever knew, well, it was all I ever knew.

Now I know more. Now I even know what to call it.

A shift in my paradigm has taken place.

I'm no longer living in the ant farm behind the glass.

Now I am one of the greater beings observing it and seeing it for what it is.

A faulty social construct.

A Friday Funny

2012-02-03T12:04:00.000-05:00

Only a Farm Kid Would Think of This...
When you're from the country, your perception is a little different.......
A Missouri farmer in his pickup, drove to a neighbor's, and knocked at the door. A boy, about 9, opened the door

"Is your Dad home?"
"No sir, he isn't; he went to town."
"Well, is your Mother here?"
"No sir, she went to town with Dad."
"How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?"
"No sir, He went with Mom and Dad."
The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other, and mumbling to himself.
"Is there anything I can do for you? I know where all the tools are, if you want to borrow one, or I can give dad a message."
"Well," said the rancher uncomfortably, "I really wanted to talk to your Dad. It's about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Suzie, pregnant."'

The boy thought for a moment. "You would have to talk to Dad about that. I know he charges $500 for the bull and $50 for the hog, but I don't know how much he charges for Howard."

********

My apologies friends for the sparse posting this week. I've started some new material that is beyond exciting for me and it has devoured all my time and energy since last Monday!

I plan to resume regularly scheduled programming next week.
Have a great weekend! ♥

Write Stuff Wednesday! Author Kathryn Bain

2012-02-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

I am excited to be interviewing author Kathryn Bain

on my blog today!

Her first novel Breathless was just released in January 2012.

Enjoy the interview!

1. Tell us about your work: what is your genre, fiction/non-fiction, romance, sci-fi, mystery, etc.

I write mostly suspense and mystery. I love murder and mayhem, as long as it’s not occurring to me or mine. Sometimes I throw it into a romance or something humorous.

2. Tell us about your background: where you went to school and for what, publishing history, where you live, traditional publishing or indie publishing, are you a member of writers groups, do you have an official author bio to share?

I have had no training in the art of writing. Just ask my editor. I’m so comma challenged it’s ridiculous.

I started writing ten years ago, but didn’t really get serious until about eight. It was then I realized I didn’t know anything about writing.

My first release Breathless came out January 13, 2012. I went with a small publishing house just to get my feet in the door. I’m glad I did. I love working with the people at Pelican Book Group. They’re wonderful. My novella Game of Hearts, set to be released in March, is with Astraea Press. They’re also small, but they seem to have it together also. I might consider self-publishing in the future, but right now I’m working toward getting an agent.

I was the President of Florida Sisters in Crime from January 2010 – December 2011. Currently, I am the Public Relations Director and Membership Director for Ancient City Romance Authors. I also help with the quarterly newsletter at First Coast Romance Writers.

However, to survive and pay bills, I am a paralegal in Jacksonville, Florida, and work for an attorney who specializes in guardianships, probate, and estate planning.

3. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment and greatest disappointment?

My greatest accomplishment is getting my two daughters raised to be wonderful women. My oldest not only works full-time, but has started a photography business. She did my picture on my website, www.kathrynjbain.com. My youngest is a freshman in college. Both are wonderful, loving girls.

My greatest disappointment is in probably not finding God sooner than I did. He would have kept me from doing a bunch of stupid stuff.

4. Describe a typical workday. Do you write around a day job? How do you get your writing done? Are you willing to share a photo of your workspace?

My typical day starts at 5:30 a.m. I get up and exercise, then shower. I don’t think the clients would appreciate me stinking all day.

I then write from about 6:30 – 7:30. When I get home, I either do some sort of marketing, work for one of my writer’s groups, or revise something I’m working on. However, I do take most Sunday’s off and just sit around and read and watch tv. Right now I’m actually watching all the seasons of Perry Mason. I know I’m weird.

My office space is in my den. I have an HD television that is equipped with wi-fi so I use my television as my computer monitor. It keeps me from getting distracted. And with the 27” screen, I can actually read what I’m doing.

5. What is the last book you read that really moved you?

I haven’t read a book lately that really moved me. I usually read suspense or mystery so what I read isn’t that deep. But then, neither am I.

The best book I’ve read this year is titled You are Next by Katia Lief. I like how she used first person so you could get all the emotional stuff from the heroine, especially when the killer was after her.

6. What’s on your bucket list?

I have two main things on my bucket list. One is to go white water rafting. I’m not talking the real dangerous stuff, just maybe something bumpy but gentle. After all, I am a chicken.

The second is to go to the PBR (Professional Bull riding Championship) in Las Vegas. Gotta love those cowboys.

7. Do you have a “secret to your success” that you are willing to share?

The secret to my success is determination and patience. If God would do things in my time, I’d have been published eight years ago. Unfortunately what I would have put out would have been junk.

8. Describe your most recent project and where we can find it!

My newest release is titled Breathless. It is inspirational romantic suspense. My heroine, Lydia, is a widow who falls for the new motorcycle riding minister. He is a former DEA agent and has a secret that could tear their love apart. A stalker in the background wants to put a stop to their budding relationship, even if it means committing murder.

You can get the e-book anywhere e-books are available. However, you can only get the print book through me. Visit www.kathrynjbain.com to find out how, and to get a $2.00 of coupon on a signed print book.

Thanks so much to Kathryn Bain for the great interview! For more information on Breathless and to claim your $2.00 coupon, visit her website. For more information on the author, read Kathryn's bio and visit her blog today.

(Comments have been enabled on this post. Please feel free to say hello!)

*if you are a published writer and interested in an author interview
on Paris in Spring '98, contact me.
I'd love to hear from you*
♥

Weekend in Photo

2012-01-30T21:44:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe but I only have one photo of daily life from this weekend. I had a great weekend, but didn't take photos of any of it. My bad.

I'll still give you the highlights though...

♥ Saturday morning 8:30 football game in thirty degree weather. That should be illegal.

♥ Saturday (later) morning huge school fundraiser. Noise, fun, noise. Fun.

♥ Saturday (lunchtime) I attended the RWA meeting for my local chapter called ACRA (Which is the acronym for Ancient City Romance Authors). [Hi guys! *waves*] My critique buddy, K, has had some bad luck befall him so he wasn't able to attend the meeting. It turned out to be "just the girls." We had an awesome workshop discussing critique groups and how to form one of your own--full of good advice, but I'll be honest: it gave me flashbacks to those fiction and drama workshops I took in college. The ones where you hand out your manuscript to your professor and all your classmates two weeks ahead of time and then prepare yourself to have your skin ripped from your body layer by tender layer as the entire class collectively "critiqued" it for you in person. Oh. My. God. That's the kind of experience PTSD is made of. I now prefer a much more private ~~skinning~~ (I mean) critique, thank you very much.

♥ Sunday morning Unity (spread the ♥!) followed by a birthday party for one of Duckie's classmates.

♥ Monday was so busy that it felt like another weekend day. I got very little work done but did get some appointments handled and even got to see my BFF from childhood tonight! She was in Jax for an appointment herself and stopped by for dinner on her way through. What a great treat!

Tonight I'm a little bummed. I normally get this way after a visit to the FIRM.

That's why I posted the photo of myself and Decoy.

Whenever I need a hug, he's on the job.

He even whispers sweet nothings in my ear.

He says, *Mom, buy more milk bones, okay? Thanks*

Not really.

He never says thanks.

He's not great with pleasantries.

But he's a good dog all the same.

Popping in to Say...

2012-01-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! I hope you have had a fabulous weekend. Mine has been pretty great... I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. I’m just popping in right now to remind you that author Kathryn Bain will be interviewed on my blog on Wednesday! YAY! She will be answering personal questions, writing questions, and discussing her new book Breathless.

You don’t want to miss it!

101 Ways to Become a Professional Writer: #90

2012-01-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

Research:
Come out of your shell, reach out, and contact someone.

The theme of this next series of posts in Professional Writing 101 has to do with keeping your writing queue full. Topped off. Having stuff lined up to write about at all times. That means focusing on topics you are interested in and even topics that you just might want to learn more about. If you are writing about topics that you know little to nothing about, invariably some research will be required. You may think of research as what you did in junior high school (or should I say what I did in junior high school): sitting in a dusty library, pouring over the stacks, trying to make sense of the Dewey Decimal System and digging for dimes in the bottom of my backpack because the photocopier cost ten cents per page. The good 'ole days.

Research can mean all sorts of things. Library research, internet research, throwing a question out on Facebook to see if your friends know something about a topic you might not. All of those things count.

I want to toss another idea out at you: contact someone.

Whoa. You mean, like pick up the phone and call somebody?

Yeah. Even scarier, make an appointment and meet them in person.

This will blow you away even further: become interested in their story, who they are, and what they can teach you. Then write about it.

Contacting someone and explaining to them that you are a writer and are interested in what they do is one of the most interesting ways to get to know somebody. You can learn so much by the simple act of just being interested.

While staying in Montana last summer, I learned what it’s like to be a cowboy on a dude ranch. I learned that the movie "City Slickers" actually depicts a real life thing. City dwellers go out to the "wilderness" to do things like work cattle and ride horses for relaxation. I learned what "outfitting" is. How did I learn all this? I struck up a conversation with a cowboy and asked him how he'd come by his job and what it entailed. Simple as that.

And you can too.

I approached an author recently and requested an interview. She responded with the best comeback I’ve heard in a while:

“Of course I will. You should know by now, I am my own favorite subject.”

(By the way, author Kathryn Bain is being interviewed right here next Wednesday. So don’t miss it!)

It was a funny, lighthearted response to which I, in turn, thanked her profusely, and it illustrates my point exactly. Most people are their own favorite subjects. They just don't realize it.

If you’re smart, you will become your own favorite subject too.

Contacting strangers to inquire about what they do, where they live, or just who they are is how you find new characters and new situations for your writing. You may meet people who have overcome great odds. Let them inspire you and then share that inspiration by writing about it. You may learn something you never knew you always wanted to know. You may meet someone who could change your life; or at least change your mind, which I think can be just as important.

And now, my next chunk of advice: return the favor.

As writers we all have "writer friends."

We all have blogs. We are all looking for interesting content that inspires us.

It is the reason that we do what we do: to share our interesting, funny, sometimes heartbreaking stories with the world and with each other.

You may be someone else’s inspiration. How will you ever know unless you are willing to share your story too?

If you aren't already, become your own favorite subject. Make it known what information and life experiences you have to share. Be open and receptive to being contacted for information.

It’s all in the name of research.

It's what keeps a professional writer busy while the amateurs are sitting around wondering what to write about next. We already know.

I met him last summer.

And I'm interviewing her on Wednesday.

And I've met a ton of interesting people in between--who I can't wait to write about.

Next week I want to discuss some of the different places we can park and sell what we write. How your research into a particular topic can lead you to several different pieces of writing that can be spread over several different markets. We’ll talk about turning non-fiction into fiction and into creative non-fiction and all the stops in between.

☼ If you are new to this series, I am now offering the first 10 articles of Professional Writing 101 in pdf format for FREE! To request a copy, click here.

☼ Come back next Wednesday when author of Breathless, Kathryn Bain, will be interviewed.

I have Officially Hit an All Time Low

2012-01-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

Oh friends, I am shocked and embarrassed by the story I'm about to share with you. I'll start by saying it's true. 'Cause although I'm a fiction writer, I'm not sure even I would have come up with this on my own.

*Sigh. Hangs head in shame.*

I got into a verbal altercation today with a woman in Wal-Mart.

Not just in Wal-Mart. In the Wal-Mart bathroom.

How does this happen?

Today was early release day from school and since I like to make other people suffer as I suffer, Duckie got recruited to run errands with me all afternoon. We ended up, last stop of the day, at the Mandarin Wal-Mart to do a big household supplies/grocery trip. We started on the non-perishable side of the store, shopping through the pharmacy, pet food aisle and office supply section (my personal favorite! You should totally see my new project planner I found. It rocks!) and were just heading over to the the grocery section when I had to empty my bladder. Yes, I just announced on my blog that I had to pee. A fact of life. There it is.

So what do you do when you are shopping with your seven-year-old son and have to use a public restroom with no "family restroom" in sight? You take said seven-year-old into the women's rest room and make a beeline for the larger handicapped stall before anyone sees you, that's what.

Unfortunately, today my extra-large handicapped stall was occupado and we had to split up into two separate stalls instead. As I was in the middle of "taking care of business" I hear an old crotchety woman's voice start yelling at Duckie, "You don't belong in here! You use the other bathroom!"

To which I promptly yelled, "He's not going anywhere!!! He's staying in here with his MOTHER!"

Keep in mind, Duckie (being a boy) is super fast at "taking care of business," and was already waiting for me by the sinks. The old lady who had been in the handicapped stall had come out, found him there waiting for me and started yelling at him. I thought she yelled at him because she thought he was alone and had walked into the wrong restroom. Evidently, I was wrong because even after I yelled at her from behind my closed stall door, she continued yelling at Duckie some more telling him to "get out!"

Unbelievable that some old lady would try to send my seven-year-old little boy either out into a huge box store alone or, even worse, alone into a men's restroom that could hold fifteen men at any given time!

I hurried out as fast as I could, mainly to make sure she didn't scare Duckie out into the store alone. Also because if I'm going to get into a screaming match, I like to be face to face and preferably not while urinating. Alas, I was too slow because when I left my stall the lady was already gone.

This, however is where it gets even more interesting...

Duckie told me that she wasn't some random old lady in a public restroom. She was a WAL-MART EMPLOYEE!

Yelling at small children. Yelling at my small child.

I trucked it up front and complained to the manager on duty. Since I didn't get a look at the employee, not much could be done. The information we got from Duckie was that she was "old" and the name on her name tag was spelled "Bright." I think he might have meant "Bridget" but who can be sure?

For the record, I learned that the Mandarin Wal-Mart does have a family restroom which this pleasant lady could have directed us to for future use. Glad to see her people skills led her in another direction entirely though. The pinnacle of great customer service that we all hope to achieve!

Tell me you guys, how do you handle using public restrooms with your opposite gender child when it appears a family restroom doesn't exist? Has something like this ever happened to you?

Have you ever had a screaming match with a stranger in a public restroom in front of your child trying to prevent them from running out into a store alone because they were the wrong gender to be in that restroom?

Maybe it's just me.

I totally need to start shopping at Target.

The Bucket List: I Want to Land on an Aircraft Carrier

2012-01-25T09:36:00.002-05:00

Your Bucket List is the list of things you want to do before you die, AKA “kick the bucket.” These may be standard things like “travel the world,” or simple yet complicated things like “open my own flower shop.” They can also be outrageous things that tickle your fancy for reasons only known

(or sometimes unknown even) to you!

Like my friend Karen who wants to ride an ostrich.

For real. Karen started this whole feature with that idea alone.

So tell me…what’s on YOUR Bucket List?

I want to welcome my new friend and writing buddy Skye Taylor of Barefoot on the Beach to the blog today! She is an amazing lady who has already done incredible things (as you can see from that link up there)! However, she has a couple more things on her Bucket List that she's going to share with us today!

1. Do you have an outrageous/frightening/incredibly unique item on your Bucket List? What is it?

I want to be a passenger in a plane landing and taking off the deck of an air craft carrier but I'll probably have to settle for flying in an amphibious plane taking off and landing in the water.

I also want to spend New Year's Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland.

2. When did you first hear about or decide this was something you really wanted to do?

I'm an adrenalin junkie. I have always loved roller coasters, the bigger and wilder the better. I took up skydiving and absolutely loved it. Now that was flying, pure and simple, with the wind rushing by at 125 mph, able to do rolls and flips, then enjoy a lovely ride under canopy as the ground came up to meet me. Unfortunately for me, probably due to the crazy things I did as a kid, I have several compromised discs in my back and I've been encouraged to give up roller coasters and skydiving. I have always been in love with flying, in any size aircraft, but watching programs like JAG and specials on life aboard an aircraft carrier, taking off and landing on the deck of one of these seems like the ultimate flying experience.

After the last of my kids left home and I was a widow, New Year's eve seemed like a lonely night, and I challenged myself to find new and different ways to spend it. I've been to Times Square on NYE 2000 with a friend and the following year to Williamsburg - now there's a contrast! I've also been two years on a remote island in the South Pacific in a country that is the very first to jump into the new year. Young men make popping sounds by dropping a match into a hollow bamboo tube filled with kerosene and all the local churchbells ring. I've been in Boston and Paris and watched fireworks in St. Augustine Florida, too. But Edinburgh is supposed to be the best celebration of all.

3. What is it about your Bucket List dream that is challenging or frightening to you? What is preventing you from acting on this now or in the near future?

I'm not in the Navy and not in any profession that might get me a such a ride - that's why I think the amphibious plane will be my fulfillment.

It's a challenge to get to Scotland on New Year's Eve because I don't want to go alone and so far haven't found anyone who wants to go with me.

4. What is holding you back from completing this task? What kinds of things could you put into action now in order to make your dream a reality?

If I was a Times Best Selling author writing thrillers about Navy pilots, I might be able to wrangle such a ride. Guess I'll just have to keep working on the publishing angle!

There's also the cost.

5. Describe the feeling of accomplishment you believe you would have when you face your fear, stop making excuses, and Just Do It.

I think it would be the thrill of a lifetime.

Such a trip would leave me with lovely memories to last a lifetime and photos to revisit whenever I like.

(source)

Thank you Skye for sharing your Bucket List with us today! If anybody out there knows a Navy Pilot who would land Skye on an aircraft carrier you know where to reach her: 1-800-DAREDEVIL.

Just kidding! She can be reached right HERE.

Stop by her blog and have a look around! The things Skye has ALREADY done will amaze you and clearly, we just don't know what she may surprise us with next!

Thank you Skye! ♥

☼ To see more Bucket List posts, click HERE.

☼ If you would like to be featured in a Bucket List post yourself, contact me HERE. I'd love to hear from you!

Perfection

2012-01-24T14:10:00.000-05:00

I have come across the same quote in three different places over the last week or so. The first time I heard it, I thought, Whoa, Diana, that's a good one. Make sure you remember that! You should write that down! The second time I heard it, I scratched my head, and grabbed a pen. I DID actually write it down that time. Then, just last night while reading one of my favorite blogs, I saw it again.

This time the message was loud and clear. It was like the voice of God saying, Diana this means YOU!

So,this is what the voice of God told me:
"The world doesn't reward you for perfection. The world rewards you for getting things done."

I can't begin to tell you how applicable this statement is to me and my life. From the time I was a kid, I have belabored almost everything I have ever done. Homework that took most kids 45 minutes or an hour to finish took me all night. You couldn't ask me to do a research paper or a science fair project unless you wanted to see obsessive compulsion at its finest. Anything I did had to be perfect. There was no other option.

That obsessive-compulsiveness hung around all through high school and then college. Then, something remarkable happened: I got a job. A nine-to-five job. I had a boss and a schedule and, although I had a great deal of autonomy over the program I was running, I had a calendar to follow. I had deadlines that were not self imposed. Suffice it to say, I started working smarter and faster and more efficiently. I had so much going on that I learned how to do things to the best of my ability and then move on because the next project was waiting.

I developed faith that my "best ability" was good enough. My work didn't have to be "perfect" because it was the little imperfections that made it special, unique, and desirable. The little imperfections are what made my work uniquely mine.

I had conquered obsessive-compulsive perfectionism. I was FREE!

Fast forward to today: I don't think God would be speaking to me so persistently if I wasn't having a problem, do you? Yeah, me either.

I work for myself. I make my own schedule. I'm in charge of my own quality control and I have to admit, the perfectionism thing is rearing its ugly head again. I am great at working on a deadline and producing work for other people in a timely fashion, but I'll admit, my own work has been languishing. What I realize is that when things don't move forward rapidly enough, when I lose momentum, not only is it difficult to finish a project, but I give myself too much time to consider whether it's good enough. If I don't have a deadline, I can literally work on one particular thing forever in the pursuit of perfection. But I just established that it's the imperfections that make a masterpiece, not the other way around.

This is crazy.

I might be in need of an intervention.

Luckily, I heard the message loud and clear and at least I can follow directions.

The world doesn't reward you for perfection. The world rewards you for getting things done.

That's going on my magnet board right now.

P.S. My friend Skye Taylor of Barefoot on the Beach will be here tomorrow for a Bucket List post! Don't miss it. She's an amazing lady already...what more could she have on her list that she hasn't already done? You'll be surprised...☺

Weekend in Photos

2012-01-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

We had a rather low-key weekend by Brummer standards. A friend of ours gave us tickets to the circus and we went on Saturday. I usually boycott circuses and fairs due to the animals rights stuff that goes on, but I must say, we had a really good time. I had kind of rationalized it in my head that the animals that perform in the circus are actually well-cared for; vetted, fed properly, and generally loved and respected by their trainers and keepers. Speaking from experience, anyone who has it in their heart to work with animals does so for the love of animals. Animal work, whether you are a trainer, vet, or poop-scooper is generally hard, laborious work for relatively little pay. If you don't do it for love, there's little reason to do it.

For the record, I'd totally run away and join the circus just to get to work with the elephants.

I want an elephant so bad right now. I love elephants. Have you ever seen anything so amazing?

However, that whole rationale-dance that went on in my head went bust when I googled "animals rights violations" and found this:

"In 2011, the circus agreed to pay a $270,000 fine for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. This is the largest penalty ever assessed against an animal exhibitor under this legislation." (Here's the source.)

I know, I know...if I could live with being uninformed, I think I'd be much happier hiding in my little rosy-colored world where I didn't check Wikipedia. But I love Wikipedia. Almost as much as elephants. Almost.

Picnik is Belly Up come April. Wah!!!

2012-01-22T01:28:00.000-05:00

Bad news friends...my favorite, user friendly, digital photo editing app (Picnik.com) is getting the ax in April. From what I've read, Google purchased Picnik back in 2010 and they promised to make beautiful music together. Now, a couple years later, Picnik is wildly popular and Google is going to capitalize on the popularity by rolling some of Picnik's stellar services into Google+ and otherwise ending Picnik as we know it.

I am so, so sad.

It is kind of common knowledge across the internet that this is nothing more than a ploy by Google to boost the number of users on Google+. No doubt, Google+ can use whatever help it can get. It's not my favorite site, and my "friends" don't seem to be flocking to it either, which I find to be indicative of its overall usability and likability.

So alas, we are left with...well, finally learning Photoshop, I guess?

I'm going through the list of possible alternatives to Picnik now. Some of them include: Pixlr, Splashup, Pixenate, Fotoflexer, Befunky, and iPiccy.

Have any of you used some or any of these programs already? If so, I'd love to know your thoughts! Otherwise, I will be experimenting between now and April and will let you know what I discover to be the *best* replacement for my beloved Picnik.

Shame on you, Google. Shame on you.

The "Formula" Novel

2012-01-21T23:56:00.000-05:00

Blogging is one of those crazy things I do for which I don't have a good explanation. On the one hand, it's sort of a compulsion, fueled by the need to be heard. On the other, it's a constant balancing act between saying what I want to say and saying too much. I read an interesting quote yesterday in one of the fifteen books I always seem to be reading at once. It goes something like this: "The need to be loved is stronger than the need to be heard."

I think that sums up what I'm feeling right now. My need to feel loved is stronger than my need to be heard.

At least that's what I'm telling myself; but typing that sentence just feels wrong. Like I'm running away from something important that I don't want to face but need to face just the same.

Can I just come out and say it? Can I tell you what's going on?

I'm preparing to start a new "formula novel." At least that's what I call a novel that is totally outlined and plotted before I type word one. I already know what is going to happen in chapter one, two, three, four...all the way to the end, including the epilogue. I liken this kind of writing to cooking. The recipe is right there in front of me, all I have to do is mix the ingredients in the proper amounts and in the correct order, stir a little, pop it in the oven and let it bake for a while. In about two months, out will come a novel. It will be a good story. An inspiring story. An uplifting, everybody-wins-in-the-end kind of story. The kind of story that is fun and easy to write and will be fun and easy to read.

So why am I belly-aching? There really is nothing to complain about, is there?

Maybe. Maybe not.

I've been working on a particular manuscript for the past year now. It's full of personal demons, family secrets, and dark, dark themes that I can say unequivocally I'm not proud to have grown up with. It's a story that has affected me deeply and it's a story that needs to be told. However, as soon as it's published it will be very clear to any of my family members who read it which character is whom.

It's still my story. It still needs to be told. I need it to be heard.

I want to pull the monsters out of the closet and shine a spotlight on them to take away their power.

But I'm wondering if my need to be loved is stronger than my need to be heard right now.

Telling this dark tale--which to the rest of the world will masquerade as literary fiction--has the potential to cause hurt feelings and rifts amongst a family that already has its share of problems. Is that something that I really want to deal with? Even though it is a story that I will have to tell sooner or later in order to be true to myself?

I don't know. These are the things I'm struggling with right now.

This is the stuff that other writers have faced and ultimately it is a personal decision.One only I can make.

That precarious balance between being true to yourself and potentially hurting people you love.

In the name of art? Or in the name of healing?

Or is it because angst becomes art the same way grit becomes a pearl?

What to do, what to do...

101 Ways to Become a Professional Writer: #91

2012-01-20T14:05:00.000-05:00

Diversification:

Now, what was it you were ~~talking~~ writing about again?

Today's post marks a mini-milestone in this series. We are officially 10 posts into jump-starting your writing career. Up to this point, we have discussed different strategies that will take you from being a wannabe writer to a real, live, working writer. We've discussed things like making time to write, juggling your writing duties and your day job, personal organization, time management, and finding your voice--as well as professionalism and treating your writing job like the business it is.

All those topics have led me to--not just the topic I want to discuss next but--the theme of the topics I want to discuss next. Do you know which theme I'm talking about? It's an important one otherwise known as: how to keep your writing queue full so that you always have work coming in and, along with it, a paycheck.

We need to talk about diversification people.

When I was a kid, my dream was to fill library shelves with the books I had written. Shelf after shelf of my good ideas poured onto the page so that they could be shared with the world. It's a noble dream. A valid dream. A dream shared by many a writer. Unfortunately, there was a piece of my dream that I hadn't quite worked out at the time: what kinds of books would be lining those library shelves I had imagined?

Whatever do you mean? Whatever books I wanted to write, of course.

Yes, yes. That's why the theme of our next set of posts is so important.

Writers love writing and reading. So, go figure, when they discuss their work, those are the things they typically discuss: why they love writing, and whose writing they love reading at the moment. Unfortunately, writing about writing will not sustain a writer. A writer has to have an arsenal of topics which they are comfortable writing about at any given time.

What kinds of things do you enjoy writing about? I want you to jot down a quick list. Do it now. I’ll be here when you get back.

And hey, don't over think it. Just jot down the things that pop into your head: the things you know enough about that you could write about them intelligently and for a broad audience without having to do a ton of research.

Okay…ready?

Take your time. But not too much time. (The over-thinking thing, remember?)

...how about now?

Great! See, told you I'd still be here.

How long is your list? Did you come up with ten topics that you think you could write about that would fit those parameters?

Now, be really honest. Of those ten topics, which of them are you truly comfortable writing about? Which of them do you feel most confident about? Whether you set out to write a blog post, an article, or a full book-length manuscript, you have to know enough about your subject so that your information is accurate, engaging, insightful and intelligent. How is your list measuring up now?

Your list may have included things you are interested in like: politics, scuba diving, flying airplanes, stock car racing, bio-medical engineering, the stock market, or religion. Do you, at this moment, have the background necessary to write knowledgably on these topics you just listed? Or, are you basically winging it?

Because, keep in mind, the people reading what you write may very well be politicians, scuba divers, pilots, race car drivers, stock market analysts, biomedical engineers and theologians. If you are not an expert yourself in one of these fields, have you at least done your homework (i.e. done the research necessary) to write intelligently about a topic which other intelligent, informed people may end up reading (or so you would hope)?

Hmmm...you may be thinking, my life is a little boring. Maybe I don't have as much to write about as I previously thought.

Never fear. I'm here to tell you, you're not alone.

Let me throw a name at you: Diablo Cody. You may recognize her as the author/screenwriter responsible for Juno, a little 'ole piece of work that won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2007. Diablo Cody has also written/talked about at great length that she became a stripper to give herself something to write about, an experience which she chronicled in her memoir Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper (which yes, I have read. And liked, as I recall...)

As a writer, you have to give yourself permission to diversify your life. I'm not saying you need to become a stripper or that you need a list of ten things at which you are an expert, but you do need a list of two or three or four that you know a lot about. These can be areas of expertise gleaned from past work experience, your educational background, or a hobby that you passionately pursue. These topics will fuel your writing because you are interested in them naturally and when you're involved in something that you love, your inclination will be to share it. Do so by writing about it.

That doesn't mean that you can't write about a myriad of other things. All it takes is doing the proper research before releasing that final copy. A friend of mine wrote a phenomenal post on this topic recently and I'll tell you more about it next week when we discuss RESEARCH.

So, I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Your list, I mean!

My go-to arsenal of never-ending topics to write about include:

computers and technology
veterinary medicine
child-rearing (up to and including age 7)
travel
personal training (fitness, nutrition, holistic lifestyle)
inspiration, motivation, productivity and time management

How about you? What's on your list? What are some of the areas that you love to write about?

Share in comments!

Have a great weekend friends. Go forth and diversify yourselves!

[What I Wore] Blue Ruffled Bliss

2012-01-19T09:02:00.000-05:00

Ruffled Wool Jacket::Radzoli (thrifted), Tuxedo shirt::Kohls, jeans::Tommy Bahama

My blog stats reported that the search terms "Tommy Hilfiger Boots" brought visitors to my website today. I'm coming to realize that the search terms that land visitors on my blog are just as often clothing related as they are writing related. It's hard to believe that I blog about my clothes nearly as often as I blog about writing. This is even harder to believe because, most days, I don't even get dressed. I go straight from bed, to workout wear, to home office, to gym, to shower, back to workout wear. It's all about comfort.

Unless I am actually getting dressed in real clothes. Then it's about ruffles.

Interested in seeing more of my clothing obsession?

Click here and here and here and here and...well, you get the idea.

(Come back on Friday. We'll be talking about writing again. Promise.)

Build A Blog: What the heck is Tumblr anyway?

2012-01-18T11:35:00.001-05:00

(source)

There are so many social networking sites out there. I'm a tech junkie and want to learn how to use them all. However, Tumblr is the one site that, I must admit, I just didn't get. I mean, what the heck is it for? I would visit Tumblr every once in a while, bounce around looking at other peoples' feeds, trying to figure out what kinds of stuff you put on your "Tumblr blog." The best I could figure was that it was a parking lot for random, yet interesting, photos from across the internet. Cool? Maybe. Interesting? Sure. Valuable use of my time? Probably not.

Then I came across an article in the Romance Writers of America magazine that I receive every month. (I would do a better job of citing that article for you but alas, I am no longer in possession of the magazine. I tend not to hold on to non-digital reading material for very long. I'm pretty sure it was the December issue though. Or maybe November. Or if they mailed out the January issue way in advance, it could've been that one too). Let me just tell you what it said (I'll have to paraphrase):

Tumblr is a site where you can gather articles, blog posts, photographs, and other favorite items from across the internet so that they are available to view all in one place. You can share your collection with other people simply by giving them the link to your Tumblr account.

Ah hah! The light bulb finally came on over my head!

Tumblr FINALLY made sense to me!

Let me explain why:

*By linking articles on Tumblr, the link to the original source of the information remains in tact. This is super important because when the web crawlers scan the internet in order to catalogue web content, it is crucial that duplicate content does not exist. Duplicate content destroys search rankings because the search engine does not know which site contains the "original content" and which does not. Therefore, to prevent multiple hits on the same content during web searches, the search engines ignore the content all together. This is a big deal if YOU are the originator of valuable web content that no longer leads visitors to your website.

*By placing your favorite articles on Tumblr, you still get to share the good information you've found from across the internet all in one place while maintaining the integrity of the original content. If you don't think this is very important right now, just wait until YOU are the writer whose work gets stolen and duplicated and then no longer benefits you. It's not a fun spot!

*Using Tumblr helps protect fellow writers as well as yourself.

Although I would not spend my time scouring the internet for random, yet interesting, photos and gifs just to have something to place on a Tumblr feed, I do come across interesting articles every day, written by people I admire and would like to archive for future reference. Tumblr is now my spot on the internet to do just that. And, as the article said, the bonus is that I now have an "interesting article and photograph link" to share with you!

Drum roll please...

I present to you: my Tumblr feed.

Do you have any tips, tricks, or advice for using different social media and networking sites? Share in comments!

♥,

Weekend in Photos~Jekyll Island

2012-01-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

This long weekend took us to Jekyll Island, Georgia.

It was a nice surprise that it was only about an hour and fifteen minute drive from home in Jacksonville.

The day was beautiful. Breezy and cool, yet sunny.

Who knew fishing piers could have "architecture?"

Or there could be so much to do in the middle of no where?

No doubt, there's a real "Amity" vibe.

Nice beaches (da-dum, da-dum)

*whisper* don't go into the water

Just Kidding.

I think you can go into the water.

But I didn't. It was cold.

How was your weekend?

How to Make a Magnet Board

2012-01-16T08:13:00.000-05:00

My daily affirmations were posted all over the bathroom mirror on sticky notes. They were constantly falling down and I was constantly re-writing them. I had a bare little section of wall above my toiletry basket and I just knew it would be the perfect spot for a magnet board for the purpose of holding all my little inspirational sayings. So, this is what I did!

Supplies Needed: 1 cookie sheet, pretty scrap-booking paper, scissors, a hot glue gun, double sided tape, and some wide ribbon.

First, I measured and cut my paper to fit the size of the cookie sheet.

Next, I measured and cut out sections of wide ribbon to cover the edges of the cookie sheet and to make a hanger.

Then, I taped the scrap book paper to the cookie sheet using double sided tape.

Not pictured (because I didn't trust myself to use the camera and hot glue gun at the same time):
hot glue the ribbon to the edges of the cookie sheet to make a frame. Hot glue two sections of ribbon to the back of the cookie sheet to make a faux hanger.

Almost done! I mounted the magnet board to the wall using Command poster strips. It was so light that it was the best and easiest way to attach it. I used a tiny finishing nail to tack the ribbon "hanger" up to give the appearance that it was being hung like a picture. I moved all my post-it notes from the mirror on to the magnet board and pinned them there with tiny colorful magnets I found at Office Depot.

Gratuitous picture of my cat walking on my bathroom vanity but it gives you an idea of the spot I had to fill and how I filled it. Super easy little project and the perfect fit!

[What I Wore] Peer Pressure

2012-01-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

Skirt: Tommy Hilfiger, Top: Tommy Bahama, Vest: vintage, Boots: St. Johns Bay, Socks: Kohls, Scarf: purchased under peer pressure on the shopping trip for Tia's birthday.

We have developed a tradition over the last couple of years. Two of my good girlfriends and I go out for lunch and on a big thrifting expedition in celebration of each of our birthdays. This past week was Tia's birthday and it was perfect timing because a) we needed an excuse to go thrifting b) we needed another excuse to drink a bottle of wine with our lunch specials and c) clearly I needed to be pressured into buying another scarf. Since thirty-five of them is not nearly enough. Maybe that will be my next challenge: to photograph myself wearing a different scarf everyday and post the photos on instagram. I betcha I'll still be posting new photos at least a month and a half from now...

Challenge. Accepted.

Wanna watch it unfold...?

Follow me @parisinspring98.

It. will. be. epic.

13 Gypsies

2012-01-12T23:17:00.002-05:00

This cute little restaurant is located in Riverside in Jacksonville

and has been featured on the Food Network show

Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

We had to check it out:

We ordered 2 tapas and one entree to share.

The restaurant itself is very small. Seating only for around 17 people.

My major complaint is that half of the seats were positioned so that the sun beats straight into your eyes.

Hubbs was on the sunny side of the table and it was so bad we had to switch tables

when the table next to us left.

Annoying! Why not just hang more shades for certain times of the day?

We ordered the dishes featured on the Food Network:

Chorizo, dates and pears

Pasta L'Amatriciana

and Roman Gnocchi

The pasta was nothing to write home about.
Unfortunately, I think we must have chosen the wrong entree.

Compared to the two tapas, the pasta was just fair.
But Hubbs will vouch the chorizo dish was one of the best he's ever tasted
and my choice of the Roman Gnocchi was divine!

It's definitely worth another try.
However, next time we'll be wearing sunglasses!

Has one of your hometown restaurants ever been featured on T.V.?
Did it live up to the hype?

Stoking the Creative Flame

2012-01-11T20:04:00.000-05:00

Creativity.

I get overdressed because I work alone. So when I do have the occassion to get dressed, it's usually over the top.

I change my hair color and style often.

I wear weird clothes a lot of the time. Not inappropriate clothes, but clothing that is often inappropriate for the event to which I'm wearing it.

You know what? I don't care.

When you're a writer--or have any artistic sort of job--you have to tap into your own creativity a lot. Everyday. Your own creativity is your greatest resource. You wake up in the morning, grab your buckets, and make the long, dusty walk to the creative well inside your own mind. You fill bucket after bucket, some days making several trips. Then you throw your creativity, your own life force, onto a page for all to see.

Although I believe there is a never-ending supply of good ideas to be had, I also believe you must feed your creative soul to keep it from running low, or drying up. You have to do whatever it takes to keep your source from becoming depleted.

What do you do for yourself that's fun?

What do you do that pushes the envelope and takes you out of your comfort zone?

In what area of your life do you give yourself permission to have a "screw you, I like it and I'm going to do it" attitude?

I like clothes and shoes and makeup and hair dos.
I like turning an occasion into an occasion!

I like not being afraid to try something new, even if there is potential for embarrassment.
I think I'm brave that way.
Maybe that's what allows my writing to be brave too.

How about you?
What do you do to fan the flame of your own creativity?

♥ I am waiting on a couple of new author interviews for Writer Wednesday (you know who you are...) If YOU are an author with a recently published book, I'd love to interview you here on Paris in Spring. Contact Me. I look forward to hearing from you!♥

"The Falls" by Joyce Carol Oates

2012-01-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

I haven't done a book review in a quite a while and I'm pretty far behind on reviewing my reading list. I've been on a quest for years now to read the entire body of work by Joyce Carol Oates. Have you read any biographical information on her? She truly is an amazing writer. She's a creative writing professor at Princeton University and is known to write upwards of eight hours per day in longhand. Prolific doesn't even begin to describe her or her work ethic. Incensed, driven, obsessive maybe? I don't know, but I'd love to sign up for one of her creative writing classes and spend a little bit of time in her orbit just to see what makes her tick.

If you haven't guessed already, I fall in love with the writer as much as I fall in love with their work. It's why I love doing author interviews here on the blog. If the writer is captivating, then I'm almost guaranteed to find anything that they write equally captivating as well.

What I found incredibly interesting about "The Falls" was the use of the setting as one of the main characters in the story. The book begins with a young, newly married couple who are honeymooning at Niagara Falls. The husband, who is homosexual and in denial of that fact, decides early one morning that, rather than remain married, he will commit suicide by jumping into the Horseshoe Falls while his new wife is asleep in the hotel room. True, this device could have been used any number of ways: the young groom could have stepped in front of an oncoming bus on the two lane road in front of their desert motel under the same set of circumstances and I might have been just as captivated. But for me, one of the most interesting parts of this book was the setting: Niagara Falls itself. The description of a suicide in the falls, how the idyllic little vacation community sustained itself year 'round and why it was so important to "cover up" an unsavory event such as a suicide. Then, as is the tendency of small, idyllic tourist areas, it couldn't sustain itself and began killing off it's inhabitants in yet other ways.

Even after the death of the young husband, events surfaced which kept the young wife in the city of Niagara Falls and thus the setting remained there for the duration of the book. Even as the human characters began to dull in my imagination, I found myself Google mapping Niagara Falls and the area surrounding it, trying to get a better idea of the layout and the geography of the place which was so pivotal to the story.

So, I want to ask you: have you ever lived in a place, or been so enamored with a certain geographical location, that the setting for your story became as important as the characters who were telling the story itself?

I would have thought for myself, the answer was a resounding no. But...

The book I'm working on now is based on events that happened in a little Florida town. Without the events, we'd have no story; but without the town, the events never would have happened in the first place.

If it wasn't for the town, there would be no story to tell. Makes that town pretty darn important, I guess.

Kind of like The Falls.

Now for the bigger question...

How many margaritas did "The Falls" score?

Uh, maybe one. Or two. You know, to help get you through to the end.

Unless you are enriching your literary writing know-how, this story will leave you wanting.

But as a piece of literary fiction that can show you a few tricks on character development when the character in question doesn't talk, move, breathe or live...well, grab your glass with the tiny umbrella in it, pull up a comfortable chair, and stay a while. Because that was pretty cool.

And for me, it was perfect timing. It was a lesson I needed to hear.

Are you an author who has recently published a book? Are you interested in an author interview or a book review here on my blog? Contact me and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

Weekend in Photos~Riverside

2012-01-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, everybody. These pics are going to get cross-posted on my "Favorite Places" page because I love this area of Jacksonville. This little eclectic community is right on the water--the north side of the St. Johns river--and appropriately called Riverside.

We visited Riverside to try out a restaurant called 13 Gypsies, which was featured on the Food Network on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and scored a post all of its own. So stay tuned... you will be seeing that later this week.

Here are some highlights from our tour of Riverside:

♥ Old buildings lining the city streets make for great ambiance.
♥ Big Presbyterian Church on the main road. I love that door.
♥ Vintage clothing store full of great finds! NOT a thrift store, an actual vintage retailer (with prices to match)
♥ Murals on the walls of an old building and ferns growing out of the wall.
♥ Memorial Park, WWI memorial fountain
♥ Pretty tree lined path on the water
♥ Hubbs
♥ Yours truly.

I'm wearing a new-to-me lambs wool American Eagle sweater and the scarf I bought to wear on our honeymoon... because Paris in spring time is cold! And so was Florida last week! Duckie gave me furry slipper boots for Christmas and boy have I been wearing them! Record breaking cold last week. But now, this week, the daytime highs are back up to nearly 80 with lots of sunshine.

Florida, that's why I love thee.
Because I must wear fleece when the temps drop below 70 degrees and fleece just isn't very flattering.

If you want to see more photo documentation of my life, follow me on twitter (@parisinspring98) and instagram (@parisinspring98). I promise it will be a rockin' good time. Promise. Well, maybe. I'll do my best. Promise. Rockin'.

How was your weekend?